The Age partners with Outer Sanctum podcast for AFL Women's season

The Outer Sanctum, the unconventional footy podcast that broke one of the biggest stories in the game this year, has struck a partnership with The Age for the historic first AFL Women's season.

The podcast, which features six women, all passionate about footy (and all Hawthorn tragics), will be available on The Age's digital platforms from late January, before the season-opener between Carlton and Collingwood on February 3, until after the March 25 grand final.

In 2016, their guests included Western Bulldogs marquee player Katie Brennan, Collingwood defender Meg Hutchins, Richmond president Peggy O'Neal and women's football advocate Susan Alberti.

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The Outer Sanctum sparked a national debate about the treatment of women in football with the episode in which they discussed derogatory comments made by Triple M commentators, including Collingwood president Eddie McGuire, about The Age's chief football writer Caroline Wilson.

The episode, and the controversy that exploded afterwards, prompted McGuire and fellow commentators Danny Frawley and James Brayshaw to apologise and the Magpies' major sponsor, Holden, to reconsider their deal with the club.

Holden ultimately stuck with Collingwood but redirected its funding with a greater focus on women's football and community initiatives.

Through its relationship with The Age, The Outer Sanctum will have access to Age football writers.

Age sports editor Chloe Saltau said the inaugural AFL Women's season presented a golden opportunity for new voices on footy to be heard.

"The Outer Sanctum podcasters talk passionately and intelligently about footy, which makes them a great fit for The Age's footy audience.

"They don't just discuss women's footy; they discuss the cultural side of the game and interview people whose voices are not always heard in mainstream conversations," she said.

Emma Race said she and her fellow podcasters "are excited to be part of The Age's coverage of this momentous event in football.

"We have spent our lives getting our footy news from The Age, so it's a thrill for us that our podcast will add a new and different way of telling football's stories," she said.

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"This partnership feels like a great fit given The Age's gender diversity in sports reporting."

Click here to listen to a previous episode from The Outer Sanctum, which includes an interview with The Age's chief football writer Caroline Wilson.